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FieldCap helps energy companies eliminate paperwork by capturing field data accurately and feeding it directly to the people and systems that need it. This enables companies to get paid faster, make better decisions and provide better reporting to their customers, and impacts everything from operational efficiency to hiring and retention. As fixed-bid projects are becoming the new norm in the industry, this level of insight and data integrity will help determine who wins those bids and who doesn’t.

“We’re a customer service company that happens to make great software,” Co-founders, Brad and Tom Peterson. “Everything we do is centred on the customer — it doesn’t matter how great our technology is if no one uses it or no one likes dealing with us.”

Startup of the Week - FieldCapBack to video

Here’s more from our conversation with Brad and Tom.

How did you come up with the idea for your startup? Was there an “ah-ha” moment?

We knew we were on to something when we saw how personal and highly customized paper-based field tickets are to the companies who use them. We knew that they track billions of dollars in revenue and that there is tangible Return on Investment (ROI) with the process, but what we didn’t know at the time is just how unique they are. In many cases these paper forms or spreadsheets represent years or decades of learning and refining what works for each particular company. Altering them can have real implications for the business, their staff, and even their customers. Armed with this realization we decided to find a way to help companies automate without having to give up the DNA of their existing forms and processes. From this our “your ticket, your way” approach was born and it resonates with our customers.

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What has been the biggest challenge so far? What have you done to solve it?

Time is always the biggest challenge. There is always a lot to do and look after. As a company that delivers software and technology our big challenge has been balancing traditional R& D work while delivering remarkable service to our customers. To help solve this we have worked hard to simplify the product and our processes so that the bulk of our time can stay focused on our customers’ needs and not our own.

What advice would you like to share with others just starting out?

Here are five resources that are beneficial to every entrepreneur.

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1. Mentors: Earlier in our careers we were reluctant to seek out advice fearing that we would be imposing on others. Now we know that most business leaders and even competitors are in fact eager to share what they have learned and help in any way they can.

2. Business books: This might sound obvious and some can be repetitive, but there is no better place to start shaping your business world than reading. Jim Collins (Good to Great) and the books from the basecamp guys (Getting Real and Rework) set the tone for how we run our business.

3. Business Support Groups: We have had the pleasure of being a part of support groups through Entrepreneur’s Organization and Innovate Calgary. Entrepreneurs face unique demands and challenges that can make it hard to find support among family and friends.

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4. Professional coaches: Having an external expert to teach, encourage or push at just the right times is priceless. Some of our most important decisions would not have been made without the help of our coach Kevin Morihira at PeakPDC.

5. Customers: If you are good to your customers, they will want you to succeed just as much as you do. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help and feedback. Some of our customers have become so engaged in helping us that they literally provide all five of these resources.

What made you choose to go down the path of entrepreneurship?

It is debatable whether it was a conscious decision or an inevitable part of a journey. Our dad has been running a successful business that he built from scratch for 40 years and counting. We have witnessed and lived the benefits that come from hard work, humility and the courage to bet on yourself. So when the right opportunity presented itself we took it and ran with it, almost without thinking.

What do you and your startup need help with?

Awareness. We have a core group of customers who promote and advocate for us but we’d love the opportunity to meet more businesses, showcase our product and approach and learn how we can help improve their businesses. We love feedback, so please visit us at www.fieldcap.ca, or just give us a call, coffee is on us!

Lloyed Lobo covers technology startups in Alberta. He is a partner at Boast Capital. If you’d like to be featured, please email llobo@boastcapital.com.

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